Stress, Rhythm, and Intonation in English pronunciation

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Why is Pronunciation important?

Pronunciation is an essential skill for any foreigner. One of the main reasons is to be understood, and have clear and intelligible conversations.

To improve your pronunciation the following areas need to be considered:

• Stress (emphasis in words and phrases)
• Rhythm (Stress patterns/slow, moderate, fast)
• Intonation (Melody / up, flat, down)

 

Let’s give you an example:

HINTS ON PRONUNCIATION FOR FOREIGNERS

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you
On hiccough, thorough, laugh and through?
Well done! And now you wish perhaps
To learn of these familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word,
That looks like beard and sounds like bird,
And dead: it’s said like bed, not bead,
For Goodness’ sake, don’t call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat,
They rhyme with suite and straight and debt.

A moth is not a moth in mother
Nor both in bother, broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there,
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,
And then there’s does and rose and lose-
Just look them up: and goose and choose.

And cork and front and word and ward
And font and front and word and sword.
And do and go and thwart and cart-
Come, come, I’ve hardly made a start!
A dreadful language! Man Alive,
I’d mastered it when I was five.

By Anonymous

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